Calculate how much a metal dimension expands or contracts when its temperature changes. Compare common engineering metals or enter a custom expansion coefficient.
α is the coefficient of linear thermal expansion, L₀ is the original dimension and ΔT is the temperature change.
What is thermal expansion? Thermal expansion is the dimensional increase that normally occurs when a material's temperature rises. Cooling generally causes contraction.
How much does steel expand with heat? Using an approximate coefficient of 11.7 µm/m·°C, a 1-meter steel dimension heated by 100°C would change by about 1.17 mm.
Does aluminum expand more than steel? Generally yes. A typical aluminum coefficient is around 23.1 µm/m·°C compared with roughly 11.7 µm/m·°C for common carbon steel.
What happens if the final temperature is lower? The temperature change becomes negative, so the calculated dimensional change is negative and represents contraction.
Can I use Fahrenheit? Yes. The calculator converts the Fahrenheit temperature difference to the equivalent Celsius temperature difference before applying the material coefficient.
Can this calculate diameter expansion? Yes. For a free circular component, diameter can be treated as a linear dimension and the same linear expansion relationship can be applied.
Does thermal expansion create stress? A freely expanding object can change dimension with relatively little thermal stress. If expansion is restrained, significant thermal stress can develop, and engineering analysis may be required.
Are these coefficients exact? No. They are representative values. Material standards, manufacturer data and temperature-dependent coefficients should be used for precision engineering work.